Need help with Boston About This Page:

[hall0731]

I am planning a family vacation to Boston in June. I am so overwhelmed with the transportation in Boston. I have been told that there is no need to have a rental car. We also want to go to Salem and Plymouth, but I am a basket of nerves becuase I can't see to grasp the bus vs rail vs subway vs boat. Can any fellow Bostonians help me out ?


Any great tips would help as well.

[chezp]

I can only talk about Boston. We got about fine on the subway and had no problems with it. We never even thought about getting a rental car for Boston and didn't need one. As I say, we were only in the centre of Boston though and not exploring other places.

[lauriep]

Not only do you not need a car for exploring greater Boston, it would be a hassle to park and pay for one in the city. You can also get to and explore both Salem and Plymouth without a car, depending on what it is you'd like to do there, but a rental would make getting around with a family easier on those days. In Boston you can take buses or subway or one of the many tourist trolleys. You can purchase a ticket for the trolley, which allows you to get on and off as many times as you want at many sites of interest.

[Griffin]

Hi! Yeah you don't need a car for when you stay in Boston. There are a few different subways that will take you where you need to go. They have gone up in price alot since I used to take them. (I think it used to be 85 cents per ride) What hotel are you staying at? I can let you know what T stop is closest and maybe some things to do around there if you would like.

As far as going to Salem and Plymouth. You will most likely need a car for these. Unless you are planning some type of bus day tours. I know there is a commuter train that goes to Plymouth from Boston, but once you get off everything would be too far to just walk.

[RobinKay6573]

I went to Boston last year and in 2007 but I drove both times (I don't mind driving in Boston...I use to live there)

Do you have a hotel yet? If not there are several options…my friend and I stayed in Braintree at the Sheraton. It is a very nice hotel and they have a shuttle that takes you to the T-Station…which will get you just about anywhere. As the others have mentioned there are trolley tours of Plymouth and Salem…as well as other points of interest in Boston. There is so much to do in the city and if you LOVE history it is the place to be.

[jagmom08]

I guess I will be the lone voice of dissent. I was just in Boston on Monday and I wished I had rented a car. On Sunday night, I stayed in Peabody and it cost me $60 to get from the Amtrak station to my hotel! I could have rented a car for $50. Then the next day I decided to move to a hotel closer to the airport since I was leaving that day and I wanted to not have to spend so much on getting around. I thought it would be more economical to stay closer to downtown and not have a car. Well, I had to take a cab to a bus station, then a bus to the airport, then a shuttle to the hotel. Then to get downtown, I took a water taxi. That was $10 for the cab to the bus station, $12 for the bus to the airport, shuttle to the hotel was free, then $10 for the water taxi to downtown. Then I spent $36 to ride the trolley around town. I still had to pay another $10 to get back the hotel at the end of the day. Plus, unless I wanted to spend more money for the "T" or another cab around town, I was stuck with the stops that the trolley went to, plus any walking I wanted to do. That was just one person! So if you have a family, it will be significantly more for some of those things. I believe the only transportation that doesn't necessarily cost extra for multiple passengers would be the cabs, not including the water taxi.

I also find it annoying that most public transportation doesn't just get you from point "A" to point "B." Usually you have to go from A to X, Y and Z, before you get to B.

[Colexis Mom]

I would definitely get a car for Salem and Plymouth! Otherwise, you'll be fine in the city without one!

[hall0731]

I think at this point we are going to stay at the Courtyard Marriott in Revere. It was more along our price range. I decided on getting a rental car for the trip becuase it is possible I could be pregnant( 1st or 2nd trimester) and really don't want to put myself in a situation without immediate transportation if needed being in a strange city.

What are the "musts" in boston? The guide that they sent me isn't very detailed.

I know I want to do the Freedom Trail. On the map it looks like is veryyyyyy long. How managable will that be in a day?

I am a history lover. But, I need a little something or everyone. I think my husband would like to go to Fenway Park and take the tour. Is it worth it?"

How about my son? He will be 9 by the time we go.

[chezp]

Highlights for us during our visit included:

- Old North Church
- Boston Common
- Old State House
- New England Aquarium
- Trinity Church
- Massachusetts State House
- Beacon Hill
- Harvard (we were lucky enough to be shown round by our friend, who's a professor there! )

I also really enjoyed wandering round Quincy Market and we had a great dinner in the North End - the markets that way were worth seeing.

[jagmom08]

The USS Constitution and the Boston Tea Party Museum, if they are open when you are there. I know the USS Constitution is undergoing some maintenance, as is the Tea Party Museum. I went to those when I was a kid, and I remember those being the most memorable parts of Boston. I think I was going into maybe 3rd or 4th grade at the time.

[doccoc2002]

You will be fine in the city without a car, but on the days you go into Salem and Plymouth I would definately rent a car. Salem has many interesting things there and you may want to stay longer than a tour trolley(I personally like to explore on my own not with a group that has a set schedule). In Plymouth is the same as Salem, but you may decide to venture off to the Cape for a few hours and you can't do that on a tour or w/out a car. For the city days you will not have to use a car and it would be too expensive to park it there just like a PP said. Get a Charlie Card when you get there and put money on it. That way you won't have to pay everytime you get on the T, train or whatever. You may want to look at the goboston.com and get that card. Have fun Boston is a great city and has a wonderful Ballpark...if you can't get tickets to a game, I highly suggest going on a Fenway Tour! Have fun planning.
Also try the Freedom Trail. Gosh, I could go on all day of what to see in Boston!

[doccoc2002]

Originally Posted by hall0731

I know I want to do the Freedom Trail. On the map it looks like is veryyyyyy long. How managable will that be in a day?

I am a history lover. But, I need a little something or everyone. I think my husband would like to go to Fenway Park and take the tour. Is it worth it?"

How about my son? He will be 9 by the time we go.

Freedom trail is totally manageable in one day...You can ask for a guided tour or do it on your own. They have tour books you can buy.

As I wrote before I saw this Fenway is a MUST!!! It is worth it...in the tour he may learn facts he might not know plus you get to see the greatest ballpark in the world!

I think your son will love Boston...although I am a little biased but my 2 DD's love to take day trips to Boston and they are 5 & 3. They love riding the T. He will have a great time!

[Griffin]

Looks like you have some great ideas already. When I used to go into Boston all the time (when DW was in college) I always liked going to the Prudential center for their shops and the Skywalk. Faneuil Hall is always fun to grab a bite to eat and shop. Fav museum for me will always be the Museum of fine arts in Boston. You really can't go wrong with whatever you do.

[RobinKay6573]

I would do a trolley tour to do the Freedom Trail. My mom and I did walk it in 1993 but it was alot of walking!! Boston is NOT an easy city to drive around. The roads aren't marked real well...even tough I was familiar with the area I would have gotten lost without my OnStar. As others suggested if you don't want to do a Trolley to Plymouth or Salem you might want to drove to those places ONLY. Take the "T" elsewhere.

I have heard the Fenway tour is FANTASTIC. I have never been on it myself. They only do the tours on non-game days (for obvious reasons).

Some others to add to your list:

Boston Public Gardens (make sure you visit the Make Way for Duckling statues)
Boston Common
Quincy Market/Faneuil Hall
Copley Square
Hancock Tower (view is amazing)
Union Oyster House
Hard Rock Cafe' (they have a Boston music section)

[hall0731]

I am concerned about the subway/bus lines from our hotel. According to their website the subway is 4 miles south and bus is 11 miles southeast. How can this be worked around?